Channeling-machine for waterways.



G. W. CHURCHILL. GHANNELING MAGHINE FOR WATERWAYS.

APPLIUATION FILED MAY 15, 1911.

Patented July 9, 1912.

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CHANNELING-MACHINE FOR WATERWAYS.

Application filed May 15, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GRANT IV. CHURCHILL, citizen of the United States, residing at Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Channeling- Machines for Waterways, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to channel clearing apparatus, and particularly to an automatically operable channeling machine to clear water courses of sand and other deposits.

The object of the present invention is to provide a substantial, powerful and auto matically operable engine whereby sandbars and other sedimentary deposits in water courses may be moved by utilizing the power of the current in the waterway and which can be readily adjusted at different points in the waterway where operations for the removal of earth deposits are necessary.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end view of the churning device.

In the present embodiment of my invention, I have represented a submerged rotor 2, which may be cylindrical or buoy shaped, and which is provided with external, radially projecting, helical blades 3 which are gradually inclined at their ends 1 where they spring from the body of the rotor 2. The rotor 2 is provided at its forward end with a shackle or swivel joint 5, to which is connected a cable or other flexible connecting member 6, which is attached at its opposite end to any stationary convenient support, indicated by a deadman which may be planted in the shore or in a stream which is indicated at a, flowing in the direction of the arrow Fig. 1.

The apparatus is designed to be used in water courses in which there is sufficient current to react upon the rotor 2, whereby this is revolved circumferentially, and which is connected at its rear end by a universal joint 8 to a connecting rod 9 secured at a uni versal joint 10 to the forward end of a submerged, movable, churning or digging device having a central core or body 11, on the forward end of which is attached the universal joint 10. The rear end of the churn- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Julyfi, 1912.

Serial No. 627,118.

ing device is connected by a shackle or swivel joint 12 to a flexible connection 13, which may be led rcarwardly from the churning apparatus and secured to an anchor or other stationary point down stream. The digging device 11 is provided with a number of curved, rcarwardly slanted, propelling blades 14: which are secured at their in. ner ends to the body portion 11. These blades are designed to derive a rotary motion from the force of the current in the stream, which force will act to assist the rotary motion, given the digger by the rotor 2, which is transmitted through the connecting rod 9. The propelling blades lt may be of any desirable length, and of such general form as will result in a tendency to rotate the digger body 11 and also to scrape or churn the soil at the bottom of the stream. If desired and preferably, the digging action is accelerated and the capacity of the digger is increased by securing to the body 11 radially projecting spades or other digging points 15, which may be longer than the propelling blades 14, and which may also be designed to derive force to rotate the digging apparatus from the force of the current in the stream.

In operation the apparatus is adjusted in the stream adjacent to a bar or other shoal on the bottom of the stream, and the rotor 2 is planted in advance of the digging device so that when the current of the stream encounters blades of the rotor, the latter will be revolved and power transmitted from the rod 9 to rot-ate the digging device, which will resultin churning and scraping the cleposit of the river bed sufficiently to loosen it and permit the current in the stream to carry the agitated material down stream.

The apparatus is particularly useful in long, shallow waterways which are frequently obstructed by changes in the chan nel, due to the formation of sand-bars. This apparatus is adapted to be planted in position so as to be elfective to dig away the sand-bar and open the channel for the passage of water.

The operation of the apparatus is automatic, due to the reaction of the force of the current upon the rotor 2. The only attention the engine requires is to alter its position during the cutting and churning operations as fast as the sandbar or other deposit is dug away.

There are attached at the forward and rear ends of the body 11 of the churning apparatus suitable deflecting blades 16, which have the tendency to force the digging points into firm scouring contact with the surface to be operated upon; the inclination of the deflecting blades 16 being such that the pressure of the Water will force the point-s downwardly against the bed of the stream.

A number of digging devices may be connected entrain behind the rotor by which they can be driven at one time if there is suflicient velocity in the stream to revolve the apparatus.

In some instances I may desire to omit the power generating rotor 2 entirely, in which event the churning apparatus would be revolved by the current of the water, due to the reaction of the latter upon the propelling blades 14, which would exert sufficient energy to revolve the digging pins 15 and cause them to scour the bottom of the stream.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by' Letters Patent, is

1. In a waterway channeling apparatus, a cylinder of small diameter proportionate to its length, having a plurality of substantially radial scouring devices at the front and rear ends, a plurality of rearwardly in- Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents clined, converging, propelling blades at tached to and adapted to revolve the cylinder, when subnferged in a stream of water, said blades being disposed along the cylinder between the front and rear scouring devices, and means for flexibly anchoring the cylinder in a stream.

2. In a waterway channeling apparatus, a cylinder of small diameter proportionate to its length having a plurality of substantially radial scouring devices, at the front and rear ends, a plurality of rearwardly inclined projecting propelling blades longer than the scouring devices and attached to and adapted to revolve the cylinder when submerged in a stream of water, a rotor submerged in the stream in advance of the cylinder, means connecting with the rear end of the cylinder for flexibly anchoring the cylinder in a stream, means connecting with the front end of the rotor for anchoring the rotor in the stream, and a shaft between the adjacent ends of the rotor and cylinder and flexibly connected thereto.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GRANT W. CHURCHILL. Witnesses:

E. L. PENNA, N. I. SMITH.

Washington, D. C. 

